Ward keeps Wolves from the door as Leicester progress in the Carabao Cup

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0:0 Leicester City (1:3 on penalties)

Danny Ward was City’s hero in the Carabao Cup at Molineux on Tuesday night, saving three penalties in the shoot out after a 0-0 draw…

Claude Puel made eight changes to his side for this Carabao Cup 3rd round tie, while Nuno Espírito Santo made nine changes for Wolves.
City started strongly and Iborra had two chances by the 6th minute, a long range effort going narrowly wide and then a far post header from a Ghezzal free-kick rising over the bar.
City continued to pass around Wolves and keep them in their own half and Silva had a fierce shot blocked by a busy Wolves defence.
Vardy then inflamed the home crowd with what looked like a judo throw on the considerably larger Hause as they contested a ball on the bye-line.
Wolves came more into the game after 20 minutes and some poor positioning from Ricardo allowed Vinagre in down the left, but his shot was tipped over the bar by Ward.
Iborra was having a fine game and sent a inch perfect pass to Vardy from the halfway line, but the striker fluffed his shot, to the delight of the Wolves fans behind the goal.
City went close in the 36th minute when a good passing moved ended with an Albrighton cross. It found Ghezzal at the far post but Coady cleared his effort off the line.
Just before the break Albrighton forced a good save from Ruddy with a well-struck shot from 20 yards, but City had nothing to show for their dominance at the break.

Early in the second half Ricardo intercepted a pass as Wolves attempted a break and fired in a 20-yarder that curled just wide of the right hand post.
At the other end Ricardo did well to race back and put in a challenge on Cavaleiro that was just enough to force his shot inches wide of the left hand post.
Claude Puel made a double change on the  hour, Gray and Iheanacho on for Okazaki and Vardy, who was serenaded off the field by the home crowd, much to his amusement.
In the 65th minute a Ghezzal cross from the left found Albrighton six yards out, but Ruddy showed brilliant reactions to get a glove to his shot.
Wolves then hit City on the break and there were four strikers in on Morgan and Evans, but Traoré chose the wrong pass and Ward parried Gibbs-White’s shot away.
The game tightened up in the closing stages, with Wolves perhaps fancying their chances in a shoot-out. Silva was replaced by Choudhury but City could only muster off-target shots from Iborra and Fuchs.
Deep into time-added-on Gray put in a challenge on Bennett but appeared to get his studs caught in the turf, bending his ankle alarmingly. He was strapped up, and given an oxygen mask before being stretchered away.
The final whistle blew soon after this and a concerned City side had to get their heads right for a penalty shoot-out.
It didn’t get off to a good start with Fuchs sending his kick against the bar, but then Saiss sent in a tame effort that Ward saved almost nonchalantly to his right.
Ghezzal slotted his into the top right hand corner,  before Ward guessed right again to deny Jota.
A poor effort from Choudhury was easily saved by Ruddy, allowing Ashley-Seal to make it 1-1 with an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
Ruddy got a hand to Iborra’s penalty but there was just enough on it, and then Ward saved brilliantly from Traoré diverting the ball onto the post.
Iheanacho strode up confidently to send Ruddy the wrong way, and City into the fourth round.

Claude Puel praised the match-winning Ward: “He is a fantastic keeper and it was a good opportunity for him to show his quality so I am happy for him. It was a tough game for the team and for him also because he didn’t have a lot to do in the game so he had to keep his concentration and his condition until the penalties, and he was very successful.”
There were positive noises being made about Gray’s injury too, so it was a very good night for City.
Wolves: Ruddy, Dendoncker, Coady, Hause, Castro Otto (Bennett 75), Saïss, Gibbs-White, Vinagre, Traoré, Bonatini (Ashley-Seal 83), Cavaleiro (Jota 57).
Substitutes: Giles, Watt, Pereira Goncalves, Norris.
Leicester: Ward, Ricardo, Morgan, Evans, Fuchs, Albrighton, Iborra, Adrien Silva (Choudhury 84), Ghezzal, Vardy (Iheanacho 61), Okazaki (Gray 61).
Substitutes: Söyüncü, Jakupovic, Amartey, Diabaté.

Referee: Paul Tierney. Attendance: 21,562.

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Foxes fight back against Terriers

Leicester City 3:1 Huddersfield Town

City came back from a goal down to beat Huddersfield 3-1 at the KPS on Saturday…

Claude Puel made three changes to the side that lost at Bournemouth, with Evans in for the suspended Morgan, Amartey replacing Ricardo and Iheanacho in for Gray.
But City got off to a slow start and soon found themselves behind to a Huddersfield side with only two points to their name. A Billing long throw from the right was nodded on by Depoitre and the ball dropped nicely for Jorgensen to stab it home from six yards.

This added to the gloom of drizzly day for a while, but City were level by the 19th minute. Town over-committed for a corner and City swiftly broke upfield. Maddison threaded a perfect ball through to Vardy who set up Iheanacho for a measured shot just inside the right hand post, giving Lössl no chance.
City ran proceedings after the equaliser and they should have gone further ahead in the 24th minute. After being fouled 25 yards out, Maddison opted for a delicate chip over the wall but the onrushing Vardy, who had peeled away from the wall, dragged his shot well wide of the left hand post.
In the 31st minute the lively front three combined again Maddison feeding Iheanacho who sent Vardy in on goal but his shot was straight at Lössl.
There was a growing sense of frustration with referee David Coote, who had booked Ndidi early in the game seemed reluctant to brandish the yellow card again when Durm grabbed hold of Maguire’s shirt like an avid souvenir hunter.
The much-fouled Maddison then picked himself up to deliver another free-kick, which Maguire got a head to, but didn’t test Lössl.
Just before the break Coote rediscovered his yellow card and waved it at Ghezzal, who was replaced by Gray for the second half.

City’s first chance after the break came from another Maddison free-kick, this time he sent a low shot round the wall into the side-netting.
The next came when Chilwell intercepted a pass and burst down the left, sending Vardy clear. His fierce shot looked like an attempt to put it through the keepers’ legs at the near post, but the gate was shut.
A Chilwell cross then found Iheanacho, but his first time effort went narrowly wide.
For all City’s dominance, Town should have regained their lead in the 62nd minute. Depoitre was sent clear on goal, but he took a little too long to line up his shot and Maguire nipped in at the last second to rob him.
Instead, it was City who went ahead in the 66th minute. As the ball was cleared from a corner Mendy was fouled 25 yards out. Maddison stepped up to give us another variation from his book of free-kicks. This time he somehow managed to get the ball over the wall and under the bar at pace, for a magnificent goal.

In the 75th minute City put the game beyond Huddersfield with a third goal.
With Town now chasing an equaliser, they were hit on the break, and Iheanacho played a well-weighted ball down the right that sent Vardy away. He outpaced Jorgensen into the area and then chipped the ball over Lössl as he rushed out to meet him.
Iheanacho was then given a warm reception as he was replaced by Albrighton.

Maddison was the next goalscorer to be replaced, by Okazaki in the 83rd minute, and he was given a standing ovation for his match-winning performance.
In time-added-on Okazaki fired a low 25-yarder but Lössl managed to tip it round the post.
Anything other than a win would have increased the pressure on Claude Puel, but City ended the day in 8th place in the Premier League.
The City boss commented:  “I was not happy at the beginning of the game, to concede another first goal against Huddersfield. We didn’t panic and came back into the game. The first half wasn’t good enough, in the second half we made better use of the space, showed greater desire and the ability to score with fantastic finishing.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Amartey, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Ndidi, Mendy, Ghezzal (Gray 45), Iheanacho (Albrighton 77), Maddison (Okazaki 85), Vardy.
Substitutes: Ward, Ricardo, Adrien Silva, Fuchs.
Huddersfield: Lössl, Durm, Jorgensen, Schindler, Kongolo (Pritchard 72), Löwe, Kachunga (Diakhaby 57), Mooy, Billing, van La Parra, Depoitre.
Substitutes: Hogg, Hamer, Mbenza, Mounie, Hadergjonaj.

Referee: David Coote. Attendance: 31,676.

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Leicester’s defensive frailties exposed by Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth 4:2 Leicester City

City’s defensive set-up was unzipped by Bournemouth who won 4-2 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday…

Claude Puel made one change for this trip to a sun-drenched south coast, with Vardy returning from suspension and Albrighton making way.
Vardy looked eager to be back in the action and Maddison set him up for a 4th minute chance which he sent wide. Four minutes later a fine through-ball from Ghezzal sent Vardy clear on goal but Begovic came swiftly off his line to block. Vardy’s penalty appeals, he’d poked the ball past the keeper before being brought down, did not move Craig Pawson.
Maguire then got an early yellow card for bringing Wilson down after giving the ball away.
There were penalty appeals at the other end, when Ricardo clipped Fraser as he made his way into the area, but he went down a little too easily and a goal-kick was awarded.
But the Cherries didn’t have long to wait for a goal. In the 19th minute they moved swiftly upfield on the break and with Ricardo caught out of position Fraser was given plenty of room to move to the edge of the area before clipping a fine finish just inside the right hand post.
City had a chance to strike back in the 25th minute when Maddison was brought down on the edge of the area, but his free-kick went straight into the wall.
Three minutes later City were lucky to have 11 men on the field when Maguire crashed into King in front of the dug-outs. It looked an obvious second yellow, as the home bench were demanding, but Pawson let the England defender off the hook.
City’s best chance of the half came in the 34th minute. A smart turn from Maddison gave him space to set up Vardy in the area. His fierce shot was well saved by Begovic and the ball rebounded to Maddison whose shot hit the keeper’s elbow, and bounced up onto the bar. It had looked for a moment like 1-1, but was soon 2-0.
Another fast break saw Wilson feed a ball to Fraser and Maguire could not keep pace with him as he slotted the ball past Schmeichel.
Three minutes later it was game over when the ball jumped up and hit Ricardo on the arm, Pawson not hesitating to point the spot. King sent Schmeichel the wrong way with his penalty to increase City’s misery.
In time-added-on, the centre-halves’ afternoon of struggle was underlined when Morgan was booked for wrestling with King.

Bournemouth applied some early second half pressure, with Ricardo presenting King with a shooting opportunity, but Maguire blocked.
Maddison was trying to make things happen at the other end, but Ndidi couldn’t get a head to his free-kick, and then his weak shot went straight at Begovic.
Something had to change and Puel brought on Iheanacho and Albrighton for Gray and Ghezzal on the hour.
There was an improvement with an attacking spell from City, but the best chance, a Maguire header, was tipped round the post by Begovic.
City were then reduced to ten men, and it looked very harsh. Morgan won a 50-50 contest with Smith but Pawson judged it to be dangerous and produced a second yellow.
Bournemouth added a fourth in the 81st minute when Fraser eased his way past Ricardo down the left and cut the ball back for Smith, who side-footed it home from 12 yards.
With the game lost, City then scored in the 88th and 89th minutes to reduce the sting of the scoreline a little.
Ricardo was bundled over in the box and Maddison sent Begovic the wrong way from 12 yards. The fairly ironic celebrations in the away section had hardly died down when Iheanacho crossed from the right and Albrighton timed his run to send a glancing header past Begovic.
In the dying seconds Chilwell sent a shot narrowly past the post but any thoughts of ‘what if?’ were snuffed out by the final whistle.
This late entertainment couldn’t disguise a poor outing for City, or the fact that Puel’s defensive system needs a fundamental re-think, with a wing-back mentality not working with a four-man back line.

Bournemouth: Begovic, A Smith, S Cook, Aké, Rico, Brooks (Francis 68), Lerma (L Cook 78), Gosling, Fraser, King (Mousset 85), Wilson.
Substitutes: Boruc, Surman, Ibe, Defoe.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Ndidi, Mendy, Ghezzal (Albrighton 61), Maddison, Gray (Iheanacho 61), Vardy (Evans 84).
Substitutes: Ward, Amartey, Iborra, Fuchs.

Referee: Craig Pawson. Attendance: 10,543.

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Leicester lose to Liverpool despite Alisson blunder

Leicester City 1:2 Liverpool

A good performance wasn’t enough to earn a point for City against Liverpool at the KPS on Saturday, despite a gifted goal from an Allison error…

Claude Puel made two changes to his side for the visit of the league leaders, with Albrighton and Ghezzal in for Amartey and Iheanacho, and Gray playing up front with Vardy still suspended.
The game kicked off in bright sunshine with a great atmosphere being created by a capacity crowd, but Liverpool should have taken a 4th minute lead.
Salah played Firmino into the area clear on goal, but Schmeichel stuck out an arm to deny him from close-range. The ball rebounded out to Salah, who stroked it wide from eight yards with the goal at his mercy.
But this was only a temporary reprieve, with the Reds taking a 10th minute lead.
Robertson was allowed in down the left and crossed for Mané, whose first touch set him up to jab the ball past Schmiechel before Chilwell could get a block in.
Liverpool ran the show for a while after their opener, but the City defence managed to snuff out their moves and Gomez sent a header well over from a corner.
City’s first chance came in the 23rd minute, a great pass from Ghezzal setting up Gray for a decent shot, but Alisson got a hand to it.
City continued to press forward and Gray sent a shot on the turn over the bar, Albrighton sliced an ambitious effort high and wide, and Maddison went close with a shot that looked to have taken a deflection.
City’s midfield were on top now, and the game was finely poised, until Liverpool struck again just before half-time. A Salah shot was tipped round the left hand post by Schmeichel. The corner was nodded out by Morgan, for another corner. Milner delivered it from the left and Firmino strode forward to nod it home from 10 yards. It all looked a bit too easy.

After dominating much of the half City found themselves two down at the break.

The first chance of the second half fell for City in the 52nd minute, when Maddison jinked through the Liverpool defence, but Gomez recovered his ground well to block the goal-bound shot.
Five minutes later Ghezzal curled a low cross into the six yard box but Morgan was wrong-footed and couldn’t apply the finishing touch.

It was an exciting end-to-end game at this stage and Salah should have set Milner up for a shot, but his touch was too heavy and Morgan cleared.
Puel made a change in the 61st minute, bringing on Iheanacho for Albrighton, and he was soon in the thick of the action.
City got a break in the 63rd minute when they were gifted a goal, the first one Liverpool had conceded this season. Van Dijk sent a wayside backpass to Alisson allowing Iheanacho to chase him down. Alisson attempted a tricky turn which wasn’t fooling the City striker who robbed the keeper, raced along the byeline and crossed for Ghezzal who netted from six yards.

Roared on by the crowd, City pursued an equaliser but the final ball was lacking.
Jurgen Klopp made a double substitution in the 71st minute with Henderson and Salah replaced by Keita and Shaqiri and this move deadened the game down.
Soon after this Puel replaced Gray with Okazaki.
Chilwell was then hit by a ball from Alexander-Arnold in the family jewels, which required a spell of treatment that also served to halt City’s momentum.
Amartey then replaced Maddison, and City were struggling to get near Liverpool’s goal as they shut up shop.
Deep into time-added-on City earned a corner, which saw Schmeichel sprinting upfield to take position at the far post, but van Dijk headed clear and Ndidi picked up a yellow card for crashing into Keita as the Reds threatened to break upfield.

The final whistle heralded Liverpool’s fourth win in four games, though City had deserved more from an encouraging performance.
Claude Puel commented: “I am disappointed for my players because they gave their best. Our second half was fantastic with good quality, good pressing and a lot of chances. It was a shame in the first half to concede the second goal just before half-time, and it was difficult, of course, to come back.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Ghezzal, Maddison (Amartey 83), Albrighton (Iheanacho 61), Gray (Okazaki 76).
Substitutes: Evans, Ward, Iborra, Fuchs.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Matip 89), Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson (Keita 71), Milner, Salah (Shaqiri 71), Firmino, Mané.
Substitutes: Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Mignolet.

Referee: Paul Tierney. Attendance: 32,149.

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Fleetwood pose no problems for Leicester

Leicester City 4:0 Fleetwood Town

City cruised into the third round of the Carabao Cup beating a weakened Fleetwood Town side 4-0 at the KPS on Tuesday evening.

Although Claude Puel made eight changes to his side it was still a strong looking line-up, and Joey Barton made it clear that his priorities lay elsewhere, changing his entire starting XI.
Fleetwood, with their meagre following of around 100, had an early chance when Long’s shot forced Ward into a save, but the City keeper had very little to do for the rest of the night.
The 10,000 who had turned up were rewarded in the 8th minute when Fuchs crashed home a beautifully struck half-volley from 25 yards.

Two minutes later Iheanacho chased a long ball through the visitors’ defence but sent his low shot against the right hand post, the rebound going straight into Jones’s arms.
Fleetwood sat back and frustrated City for a while. Iheanacho missed another chance from close-in under a heavy challenge.
City doubled their lead in the 39th minute when Iborra found room in a crowded area to nod home Fuchs’ cross from the left, and put the game beyond doubt.

Iheanacho’s frustrating night continued. After an Okazaki volley had forced a good save from Jones, Ghezzal chipped a cross in from the right and Iheanacho headed it against the outside of the left hand post when well-placed.

But Iheanacho only had to wait for ten seconds after the restart to get onto the scoresheet. Straight from the kick-off Albrighton sent Iheanacho in on goal with a well-judged ball forward and the Nigerian fired it through the legs of the advancing Jones.
Five minutes later Iheanacho was brought off, with Gray replacing him up front.
Ghezzal then cut in from the right and curled a shot from the edge of the area narrowly over the bar.
Fleetwood were hardly getting a touch at this point as City players queued up to have a shot on goal. Albrighton had a couple of ambitious efforts blocked and Gray was denied by a Jones save.
The 62nd minute saw Puel’s second change, with Benkovic replacing Morgan at the centre of the defence.
He didn’t have a lot to do, with Fleetwood pinned in their own half, and City went 4-0 up in the 71st minute. Ghezzal repeated his trick of cutting in from the right, he exchanged a one-two with Silva, and then sent a superb 25-yarder sailing over Jones and into the net.

Ghezzal then became the second scorer to be withdrawn, replaced by Diabaté.
City pursued a fifth goal, but Albrighton had a shot tipped round the post and Gray went one-on-one with Jones, but was denied by the busy Fleetwood keeper and they had to be content with 4-0.

It was an entertaining display from City, with a couple of excellent goals, but you have to wonder about the future of this competition when a League One side make eleven changes to their side.

Leicester: Ward, Amartey, Morgan (Benkovic 62), Evans, Fuchs, Iborra, Adrien Silva, Ghezzal (Diabaté 76), Okazaki, Albrighton, Iheanacho (Gray 50)
Substitutes: Maddison, Jakupovic, Mendy, Knight.
Fleetwood: Jones, Jones, Bolger, Spurr, Maguire (Madden 61), Grant (Wallace 67), Biggins, Sheron, Dempsey, Long (Hill 61), McAleny.
Substitutes: Cairns, Holt, Eastham, Burns.

Referee: Lee Mason. Attendance: 10,671.

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Late Maguire strike sinks Saints

Southampton 1:2 Leicester City

City came from behind to snatch a victory against Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday, with Harry Maguire popping up with a winner in time-added-on…

Claude Puel made three changes to his side with Morgan, Amartey and Iheanacho in for Evans, Albrighton and the suspended Vardy.
This line-up got off to an uninspired start with Southampton dictating the play, without ever really threatening Schmeichel’s goal.
City’s first chance came after quarter of an hour when Maddison swung a free-kick into the area, but Ndidi sent his header well over the bar.
Ricardo then made good progress into the area, but his cut-back to Maddison was intercepted.
In the 20th minute Elyounoussi cut in from the left and his low shot from inside the area forced Schmeichel to get down smartly to to parry.
Maddison threatened to break clear, but Hojbjerg brought him down, earning a yellow card.
After a half of few chances, both sides went close just before the break.
A good break from City led to a Chilwell cross that saw Iheanacho arriving a split-second too late to touch it into the net, while Ings low shot on the turn saw Schmeichel at full stretch to tip it round the post.

Schmeichel made another save from Ings early in the second half, but City soon went a goal down in the 52nd minute. A loose roll rolled across the area, and was met with a thumping shot from Bertrand that flew into the roof of the net.

But this seemed to spark City into life and they were level just four minutes later. Iheanacho chipped a cross in from the right, Cedric met it at the far post with a weak header and Gray nipped in, took a touch and then steered the ball past McCarthy for a fine finish.

City went close soon after this when Ndidi sent over a cross that McCarthy didn’t deal with, but Iheanacho was crowded out as he latched on to the loose ball.
Puel made his first change in the 67th minute with Albrighton replacing Iheanacho, leaving City looking even lighter up front.
The home side were reduced to ten men in the 77th minute when Hojbjerg took a theatrical tumble in the box, with no contact from Amartey. Jon Moss showed the diving Dane his second yellow card.
Puel then brought Ghezzal on for Maddison and City were pressing forward in search of a winner.
Chilwell broke into the area, but couldn’t beat McCarthy from a tight angle, and then Amartey hit a shot straight at the Saints keeper.
Okazaki came on for Gray with a couple of minutes left, but as the clock went past 90 it seemed that the game would end all-square.
But in the second minute of added time Maguire cut in purposefully from the left and launched a low 30 yarder that passed through the legs of both Romeu and Vestergaard – like human croquet – before beating an unsighted McCarthy.
The large City following behind the goal went nuts, Maguire was booked for taking his shirt off, and the home support headed en masse for the exits.

It hadn’t been a great performance for City, but it was a very welcome three points, that saw them sitting pretty in 7th place.

Claude Puel who had invaded the pitch when Maguire scored his winner, commented: “We showed our character and personality. When they scored, we came back with a desire to get back into the game. We were losing away from home, against a good team, but we showed great quality to come back into the game without panicking and remaining calm to win this game.”

Saints: McCarthy, Cedric, Vestergaard, Hoedt, Bertrand, Elyounoussi (Romeu 79), Lemina, Højbjerg, Redmond, Long (Armstrong 86), Ings (Austin 69). 
Substitutes: Stephens, Davis, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Gunn.
Leicester: Schmeichel: Amartey, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Ricardo, Maddison (Ghezzal 78), Gray (Okazaki 88), Iheanacho (Albrighton 67).
Substitutes: Evans, Ward, Adrien Silva, Fuchs.

Referee: Jonathan Moss. Attendance: 29,925.

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Leicester ride their luck to beat Wolves

Leicester City 2:0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Although Wolves peppered the woodwork at the KPS on Saturday afternoon, an own goal and a deflected shot earned City a 2-0 win…

Claude Puel made four changes to his line up at Old Trafford, with Morgan, Amartey, Silva and Iheanacho making way for Evans, Vardy, Albrighton and surprise inclusion, Mendy.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves side are keen to prove their Premier League credentials and gave City a torrid time in the opening spell. In the 2nd minute Moutinho sent a shot from 20 yards crashing against the bar as City’s defence appeared to move in slow motion.
A minute later Evans presented the ball to Jimenez, whose low cross found Doherty, but Chilwell blocked his shot on the goal-line.
After a string of Wolves corners, City finally managed to get upfield in the 8th minute, but Coady slid in with a fine tackle as Gray almost went clear on goal.
Wolves then hit the woodwork again, with a Jimenez shot from the edge of the area thumping the left hand post.
But in the 29th minute Wolves learned that the Premier League can be cruel.
As City had their first spell of pressure, shots from Albrighton and Nididi were blocked. Then Albrighton swung over a cross from the right which Doherty nodded firmly past Patrício and into the net.

If this was a metaphorical slap in the face for Wolves then they soon received an actual one, with Neves receiving lengthy treatment after Maddison accidentally caught him with a swinging arm.
City were now running the game, with the forgotten man Mendy seemingly all over the field and reminding us just a little of Kante.
Ricardo capped a good move with a low cross, which Patricio managed to grab before it reached Maddison.
But Maddison would get his chance as the first half moved into time-added-on.
Ricardo cut in from the right and set up Maddison whose shot from 18 yards took a deflection that helped the ball past Patricio.

Wolves brought record signing Traore on for the second half, and he soon set up a chance for Jimenez who had his shot blocked by Chilwell.
At the other end Mendy fed a ball to Gray who turned Neves before sending a shot wide of the left hand post.
Another shaky moment in defence followed this when Chilwell tapped the ball past Schmeichel, who had coming rushing out to claim. Fortunately for City there were no Wolves players on hand to take advantage.
Schmeichel was soon in action again when Moutinho played Jimenez in on goal but the City keeper blocked the shot with his legs.
Claude Puel made his first change on the hour, bringing Amartey on for Albrighton and going with a back five, but five minutes later he was having to reorganise again as City were reduced to ten men.
Vardy won a couple of challenges in midfield, before launching himself into a third with too much aggression. Although he won the ball his follow through cleaned up Doherty at knee height. Mike Dean brandished the red and Doherty had to go off after a lengthy spell of treatment.

Traore beat Chilwell and Evans and pulled a ball back for Bonatini, but he blazed his chance over the bar. He then headed another effort over the bar before Castro sliced a shot against the left hand post.
The 82nd minute saw two more changes for City with  Silva and Iheanacho on
for Gray and Maddison, and this line-up dealt comfortably with Wolves for the remainder of the game.
Although Neves caught a half-volley beautifully from 25 yards it went straight at Schmeichel, who punched it away. That was the end of Wolves threat and City had their first points in the bag, thanks to more than their fair share of luck.
This was something that Claude Puel acknowledged: “Of course, we have a lot of things to correct, different details because we conceded too much chances. We were lucky in the beginning of the game, but after we kept our calm to come back in the game and we scored twice.”
It was an odd afternoon, City looked shaky at the back too often, but the performances of Ricardo, Maddison and, at last, Mendy were very promising. The loss of Vardy for three games is a blow, but will give Iheanacho the opportunity to get into his stride.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Albrighton (Amartey 60), Maddison (Iheanacho 82), Gray (Adrien Silva 82), Vardy.
Substitutes: Morgan, Ward, Fuchs, Ghezzal.
Wolves: Rui Patrício, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Doherty (Gibbs-White 69), João Moutinho, Neves, Castro Otto, Hélder Costa (Traoré 45), Jota (Bonatini 45), Jiménez.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Saïss, Vinagre, Hause, Bonatini.

Referee: Mike Dean. Attendance: 32,043.

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